[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID (for Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Harkin, 
        Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Brown, Mr. Casey, 
        Mr. Inouye, Mr. Levin, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Akaka, Mrs. Boxer!, Mr. 
        Feingold, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Lautenberg, 
        Mr. Menendez, Mr. Burr, and Mrs. Gillibrand)):
  S. 1152. A bill to allow Americans to earn paid sick time so that 
they can address their own health needs and the health needs and the 
health needs of their families; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, in this turbulent economy, working 
families are facing enormous challenges. Too many families are living 
paycheck to paycheck, just one layoff or health crisis away from 
disaster. Now more than ever, workers are struggling to balance the 
demands of their jobs and their families. When a sickness or health 
problem arises, these challenges can easily become insurmountable.
  Unfortunately, almost half of all private sector workers--including 
79 percent of low-wage workers--have no paid sick days they can use to 
care for themselves or a sick family member. For these workers, taking 
a day off to care for their own health or a sick child means losing a 
much-needed paycheck, or even putting their jobs in danger. In a recent 
survey, 1 in 6 workers reported that they or a family member have been 
fired, punished or threatened with termination for taking time off 
because of their own illness or to care for a sick relative.
  Workers can't afford to take that kind of risk now. Losing even one 
paycheck can mean falling behind on bills, foregoing needed medicines, 
or skipping meals. As a result, many employees continue to go to work 
when they are ill, and send their children to school or day care sick, 
because it's the only way to make ends meet.
  The lack of paid sick day is not just a crisis for individual 
families--it is a public health crisis as well. The current flu 
outbreak provides a compelling illustration. To prevent the spread of 
the virus, the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease 
Control, and numerous state and local public health officials urged 
people to stay home from work or school if they flu-like symptoms. 
Strong scientific evidence proves that this is one of the best ways to 
prevent the spread of disease and protect the public health.
  But without paid sick days, following this sound advice is often 
impossible--millions of employees want to do the right thing and stay 
home, but our current laws just do not protect them. The Family and 
Medical Leave Act enables workers to take time off for serious health 
conditions, but only about half of today's workers are covered by the 
act, and millions more can not take advantage of it because this leave 
is unpaid.
  Hardworking Americans should not have to make these impossible 
choices. That's why Senator Dodd, Representative Rosa DeLauro and I are 
introducing the Healthy Families Act, which will enable workers to take 
up to 56 hours, or about 7 days, of paid sick leave each year. 
Employees can use this time to stay home and get well when they are 
ill, to care for a sick family member, to obtain preventive or 
diagnostic treatment, or to seek help if they are victims of domestic 
violence.
  This important legislation will provide needed security for working 
families struggling to balance the jobs they need and the families they 
love. It will improve public health and reduce health costs by 
preventing the spread of disease and giving employees the access they 
need to obtain preventive care. It will also help victims of domestic 
violence to protect their families and their futures.
  In addition, the legislation will benefit businesses by decreasing 
employee turnover, and improving productivity. ``Presenteeism''--sick 
workers coming to work and infecting their colleagues instead of 
staying at home--costs our economy $180 billion annually in lost 
productivity. For employers, the cost averages $255 per employee per 
year, and exceeds the cost of absenteeism and medical and disability 
benefits. The lack of paid sick days also leads to higher employee 
turnover, especially for low-wage workers. When the benefits of the 
Healthy Families Act are weighed against its costs, providing paid sick 
days will actually save American businesses up to $9 billion a year by 
eliminating these productivity losses and reducing turnover.
  Above all, enabling workers to earn paid sick time to care for 
themselves and their families is a matter of fundamental fairness. 
Every worker has had to miss days of work because of illness. Every 
child gets sick and needs a parent at home to take care of them. And 
all hardworking Americans deserve the chance to take care of their 
families without putting their jobs or their health on the line.
  It is long past time for our laws to deal with these difficult 
choices that working men and women face every day. As President Obama 
has said, ``Nobody in America should have to choose between keeping 
their jobs and caring for a sick child.'' I urge all of my colleagues 
to join in supporting the Healthy Families Act.

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